Manny Laureano

Gentle sight readers,

Typically, I'm not one to do a lot of outside gigging unless it's something that I find really interesting or maybe unusual. I like to sleep in when I have a holiday off and it's not like the old days where most symphonic players had to teach tons and gig outside to supplement their income. I figure there are plenty of Twin Cities free lancers that can use the work instead.

So, here I was ready to spend Christmas Eve wrapping gifts etc. when I got a phone call from Darth Vader. Actually, it was Chuck Lazarus doing a marvelous James Earl Jones impression due to a nasty cold he had. He was supposed to play the first movement of the Bach "Christmas Oratorio" last night and was asking me to fill in as he could hardly take a good breath.

It had been about 25 years since I played the tune but I love the music so I said "Sure". How often do you get to play a gig and not have to deal with rehearsal? It was for 11 pm so it wasn't like I was going to miss heavy-duty family time. It was also nice to reacquaint myself with that Bass solo, number 8, in the first movement. My picc has a nice pedal C that fills in well for the low concert A that many people fret over because it's not on the compass of the horn.Try it some time. It works well for "Let the Bright Seraphim" also.

Anyways, it went swimmingly and I had two good players supporting me, Craig Hara and Patrick Gonzalves. It makes a difference.

So my question is: have you folks had any interesting last minute sub experiences worth sharing?

Merry Christmas,

ML